All-party meet to discuss Parliament resolution on Sri Lanka

The UPA government has convened an all- party meeting this evening to discuss a resolution it plans to move in Parliament on violation of human rights of Tamils in Sri Lanka, a demand which the DMK had placed as a condition to stay in the ruling coalition. Though the DMK withdrew support to the UPA on Tuesday and its Ministers in the Manmohan Singh Cabinet resigned today, the Government has decided to go ahead with the proposed resolution in Parliament. Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Rajeev Shukla said an all-party meeting has been convened this evening to discuss the resolution. There are differences among the parties on the wording of the resolution, with the DMK and the AIADMK demanding that the term "genocide" be included while condemning the atrocities against Tamils in Sri Lanka during the recent civil war. Earlier today, the Government announced that it will also move amendments to the resolution on Sri Lanka at the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) to send a "resolute message" on the island-nation's human rights issue. Stressing that India wanted the Geneva-based UNHRC to adopt a "strong" resolution on Sri Lanka, Finance Minister P Chidambaram said India will move amendments to the draft to send a "resolute message" to that country on alleged human rights violations of Tamils and "goad" it to have an independent inquiry, a key demand of the DMK. Mr. Chidambaram dismissed allegations that India had sought dilution of the strongly-worded resolution by the U.S., saying it was an absolute "canard." He had also said DMK's demand for a resolution to be adopted by Parliament on the Sri Lankan Tamils issue was in the process of consultations with other parties. DMK is the UPA's second biggest constituent with 18 Lok Sabha MPs. Mr. Chidambaram claimed that the DMK was aware of the Government's position on the issue but had changed its stand "between the night of March 18 and morning of March 19." "We are not aware of the reasons why the DMK changed its position between the night of March 18 and the morning of March 19," Mr. Chidambaram said, while noting that DMK supremo M. Karunanidhi had said his party would reconsider its decision to withdraw support if Parliament adopts a resolution before the end of the current sittings on March 22.